Long Term Verdict: 2009 Kia Borrego EX 4x4

Saying good-bye, twice

When Kia initially developed the body-on-frame Borrego, it would have made perfect sense to see it in a comparison with the Ford Explorer, Jeep Commander, and Dodge Durango, as they all were three-row, truck-based sport/utilities. But by the time the Borrego entered production in 2008 as a 2009 model, crossovers were starting to take over the SUV market, and the Borrego was too late to the party. In fact, the Explorer and Durango are now crossovers, and the Commander and Borrego have been discontinued as the market shifts away from body-on-frame SUVs.

We were impressed that Kia was dabbling in the truck-based vehicle arena, and spent more than a year testing every aspect of what the Borrego was built to do: provide transportation on-road for seven people; carry gear in a flexible, reconfigurable cabin; drive off-road; and tow.

Part of the reason crossovers have become so popular is their refinement, often in the form of a cushy ride, sporty handling, comfortable interior, and slick car engines. One of the Borrego's disadvantages in the changing automotive market is that it had all the capability, but lacked polish and refinement. On a trip to San Diego, one editor noted that the Borrego's chassis felt trucklike and that its 337-horse, 4.6-liter V-8 engine was coarse. Ride quality also felt rough and trucky, and the Kia developed an odd groan in front and a squeak in back. The overall driving experience wasn't that memorable, either. As assistant Web producer Scott Evans explained, "The Borrego is a perfectly capable but utterly unremarkable vehicle. It went 1000 miles with nary a hiccup and was a pleasant long-haul cruiser. The engine has good power and the SUV handles surprisingly well for its size. Every time I walked away from it, though, I completely forgot about the drive because it was entirely uninteresting."

The Borrego did have positive attributes. The nav system and multimedia interface got very high marks from the staff, not only for ease of use, but because the nav allows the front passenger to enter addresses while the vehicle is in motion. The Borrego's tight turning radius and great acceleration also earned praise, but its V-8 power came at a price: so-so fuel economy with a test average of 16.9 mpg.

At the track, it reached 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, not too shabby for a 4876-pound 4WD sport/utility. Passing power also impressed; acceleration from 45 to 65 took only 3.4 seconds. It got through the quarter mile in 15.5 seconds at 91.0 mph and stopped from 60 mph in 125 feet.

The Kia went to the dealership four times for regular service. At 9169 miles, it got its belated 7500-mile service: an oil change, inspection, and tire rotation ($168.22). Running slightly less late for its 15,000-mile check, at $451.61, it got the same service as before, plus the rear differential fluid was replaced. The 22,500-mile service repeated the 7500-mile service ($56.94) as did its 30,000-mile service, but that last trip also included differential and transmission fluids, in addition to replacing the cabin and engine air filters ($664.21).

The Borrego served as transport for a backpacking trip and a weekend of rock-climbing. It was favored by staff photographers for shoots, especially those that involved off-roading. It was an excellent vehicle for prerunning trails, manuevering easily in dirt and over rocks while carrying a cargo area full of gear.

During our year-plus with the Borrego, we watched as crossovers began their domination of the SUV market, and what started as a hiatus for the Kia truck became permanent. It's probable that sales would have been better for this SUV had it come to market sooner, but the Borrego will be a great used-car value for people who want this level of capability.

Associate Web editor Kirill Ougarov summed up: "I'm impressed with how well the Borrego has held up. It has led a fairly hard life in the past year, and despite the high mileage on the clock, everything still works as intended. The design of the interior, however, has not aged well at all. The Borrego's behind-the-times design has really begun to stand out. It deserves an update."